Perkins commission approves proclamations, ratifies ordinance, funds backhoe purchase and OKs sewer pay request

Perkins, Oklahoma — The Perkins City Commission on Sept. 9 approved two proclamations, ratified an ordinance that clarifies contracting authority, authorized use of prior‑year capital improvement sales tax funds to buy a backhoe and approved a $241,389.30 construction pay request tied to a joint sewer lift station project.

The meeting also included approval of grant-closeout paperwork for a Ninth Street standpipe rehabilitation, acceptance of a donated 2015 Dodge Ram pickup for city use, and a brief Perkins Public Works Authority session that mirrored the city’s pay application and donation votes.

The commission unanimously approved a proclamation declaring October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Mayor Carla S. Cummings read the proclamation aloud, saying in part, “I, the mayor of Perkins, Oklahoma, do hereby declare October 2025 as domestic violence awareness month in the city of Perkins and urge all citizens to support the effort to increase public awareness of domestic violence and encourage assistance for domestic violence victims and survivors.” The body then voted to adopt the proclamation.

The commission also approved a proclamation declaring Sept. 30, 2025, as Every Child Matters (Orange Shirt Day), a day of remembrance and recognition for survivors and those lost to Indian residential boarding schools. The mayor read the proclamation noting the origin of the orange shirt symbol and moved that the city recognize the date; the motion passed.

On a separate item, commissioners voted to ratify Ordinance No. 514, which provides prior authorization for the city manager or other duly authorized persons to contract for supplies, materials and equipment for specifically designated projects or initiatives in excess of the $25,000 purchase limit and to allow waiver or increase of that spending limit for designated projects. The item was described by the mayor as a technical ratification to remove any question about prior agenda language.

The commission approved a motion to use prior‑year capital improvement sales tax surplus funds to purchase a replacement backhoe, as listed in the capital improvement plan, and to approve the associated budget amendment. During discussion members said the city would use reserve carryforward to avoid an elevated interest cost from the state contract and then replenish savings over time; commissioners quantified the avoided interest at approximately $30,000 and referenced several recent multi‑thousand‑dollar repairs to the existing machine.

The commission approved ORE Construction pay application No. 4 for the joint sewer lift station project in the total amount of $241,389.30. The staff explanation in the packet noted the payment will be funded by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) disbursement of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the joint project with the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma (ITO). The pay application uses ITO funds of $165,903.43 and a disbursement request for ARPA funds to the city in the amount of $75,485.87; representatives noted future lift‑station payments will be billed to the city when the ITO portion is exhausted.

Commissioners approved closeout documentation for a Ninth Street Standpipe Rehabilitation project, a grant‑funded work with a $65,000 award and a reported total project cost of $65,049; staff said the grant is administered through the Central Oklahoma Education Development District (identified in the packet as “co ed”) and the city pays the invoices first and is reimbursed by the grant administrator.

The commission accepted the donation of a 2015 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup (VIN ending 8065) from Action Plumbing — donors Jeremy and Danielle Aller were named in the agenda — to Perkins Public Works, accepted “as‑is.” Commissioners said they hoped the donors could be invited for a photo at a future meeting.

During the Perkins Public Works Authority reconvened session, members approved the same ORE Construction pay application and accepted the donated pickup for the authority’s fleet; a separate agenda item to ratify an agreement with Scribe 24 Incorporated for a critical communications package was not ready and was deferred.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda: approved (motion and roll call recorded). - Proclamation: October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month — approved. - Proclamation: Sept. 30, 2025 as Every Child Matters (Orange Shirt Day) — approved. - Ordinance No. 514 (ratification of prior authorization to contract above $25,000 for designated projects): ratified. - Use of prior‑year capital improvement sales tax surplus funds to purchase backhoe and associated budget amendment: approved. - ORE Construction pay application No. 4 (Lift Station) — $241,389.30: approved (funding: ITO $165,903.43; ARPA $75,485.87). - Ninth Street Standpipe Rehabilitation contract closeout and certification (grant funded $65,000; total project $65,049): approved. - Acceptance of donated 2015 Dodge Ram 2500 (VIN ending 8065) from Action Plumbing (Jeremy and Danielle Aller) as‑is: approved. - Scribe 24 Incorporated agreement (Critical Communications Code Red/Core package): deferred, not ready.

What commissioners said and next steps

The mayor described the ordinance ratification as a housekeeping item to remove any procedural questions about a prior meeting’s agenda language. Staff and commissioners framed the backhoe purchase as a cost‑avoidance decision: rather than accept a state contract interest charge staff used prior‑year funds and plan to replenish the account over several years. For the lift station pay application, staff explained how using OWRB disbursements will change invoicing flow going forward and that the ITO portion of funds will be exhausted before future city‑only draws are required.

The meeting included a short youth appearance: two students who participate in the school Hope Squad led the flag salute and were acknowledged by the mayor. The commission adjourned and reconvened as the Perkins Public Works Authority to ratify the authority items.

No formal motions failed; items not ready for action were deferred.

(Reporting details are drawn from the commission’s public meeting on Sept. 9, 2025; vote tallies were recorded verbally during roll call in the public meeting.)